The end for Flyers, the end for Canada

Many of you probably saw the Penguins crush the Flyers, 6-0, to easily wrap up the Eastern Conference final and advance to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1992. Not much of an effort from Daniel Briere, Marty Biron & Co. They just added to the Flyers' odd habit of no-shows in clinching games (think of the Sabres' 8-0 and 7-1 series wrapups earlier in this decade).

But for sheer drama, I wish we could have seen the final of the World Championships in Quebec City. Russia overcame a 4-2 deficit in the third period and won it in overtime, 5-4, on a power play goal by Atlanta Thrashers star Ilya Kovalchuk, who had also scored the tying goal in the third period. Had to be a total crusher for folks north of the border to have that happen on home ice.

Here's TSN's video recap of the dramatic gold-medal game.

---Mike Harrington

Comments

[dan]

Hey Matt as a Sabres fan living in Philthydelphia, I have listen to plenty around town and water coolers. I wear blue and gold in a town where back in black is still being played all the time. Talk about out dated(WMMR.) I agree about some of the young players. Umberger and Carter are going to cost a pretty penny when the Canucks and Oilers start the offer sheets. The comments came from the hockey guys on 610 who covers the Fly boys as wll as your devoted fans. Marty is good for 10-12 games. However, you better sweep to win a cup with Marty. The last I looked it takes 12 wins for a cup. Well it is May, the Eagles are back practicing and the Flyer talk will end until next March. Thank God for XM radio. Show me a Flyer fan, and that will be someone who don't know anything about the rest of the NHL.

[jan]

Please, no more stories about the players who recently left this team. They're cleaning up their golf clubs now. What's done is done, time to move on. Write stories about what Sabres are shown the door, who gets traded, who gets signed, etc.

[Mike M.]

Bster- I agree it's time to move. That was the point of my original comment. I have grown weary of listening to fans and media alike proclaim the Sabres of 05-06 and 06-07 as a "Stanley Cup team" even though they did not win the Cup and in fact failed to qualify for the finals. I took advantage of Briere's elimination to take a cheap shot at those particular fans and media members. It was not meant against the players, all of whom I liked as Sabres.

[Bster]

Mike M.

Results are difficult to argue with but really...? REALLY!!!!!!

Those players were on a team that was the very best team I have ever seen wear the Sabre uniform when we lost to the Hurricanes in Game 7 of the Eastern Finals.

That team got injured and was playing with 3 of their demen in the most important game of the year. They barely were defeated despite all of that and all of that included the injury to Talinder, who at that very time, was the best defenseman in the East....hands down.

The debate still comes back to the middle. Yeah, they miss them but maybe not as much as the Buffalo News portrays. Are they better today without them?...Come now.

Each new year means different direction....or at least it better. Time to move on from either side of this past debate.

[Mike M.]

Bster - I know for sure that none of those players won the Stanley Cup here. In fact, all of those players were on the team in 2003-2004. That team missed the playoffs.

[Bster]

The opposite, Brent and Mike M., of what the Buffalo News supposedly absolutely believes aint right either. The Sabres miss those guys. Were they the answer to our Stanley Cup longings? Maybe not. Still, either side, you or the Buffalo News, should not act so sure they know for sure. If Chemistry was that easy, then you wouldn't be writing in someone else's blog..........

[Matt]

Dan:

What Philly fans are you talking to for your information? While the ending wasn't what any Flyer fan wanted, you have to remember this was a team that finished dead last in the NHL last year and ended up being three wins away from the Finals. Not terrible in my opinion.

As for the prospects not having much skill and needing an edge - tell me how guys like Richards, Carter, Upshall, Umberger and Jones fit there. Those guys play the way the game is going to be played from here on out - so get used to it. In fact, they play a lot like the Sabres used to.

Marty stole them the Montreal series, plain and simple. He struggled against the Penguins because the team's top two defensemen were out. As a Buffalo fan, you should understand that one (see the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals - with Doug Janik starting game seven).

And finally, it takes some real guts for someone from Buffalo to accuse others of having "the 1970s on the brain." This is a town that thrives on living in the past. Need I point out more than the "World's Largest Disco" and the Main Place Mall? Walking in to that place is like taking a time machine to 1976.

[dan]

The fans in Philly are turning against Briere and questioning if Biron is a number one goalie. They have the 1970's on the brain. If you can't fight, than you need to pack your bags. Most of the prospects noted for Philly have an edge and not much skill. I see the two friends moving on in the very near future looking for a home the same way Peca did.

[Brent]

Finally somebody gets it...Thank you Mike M.

[Mike M.]

My condolences to the Buffalo News and the complaining fans of the Buffalo Sabres. Now there is no one left from the fabulous Briere, Drury, Campbell, Grier, McKee and Dumont group in playoffs. You know, the Stanley Cup core that never won the cup in Buffalo. Looks like they are just as good as not winning the Cup in their new cities.

[Sports and Business]

Still laughing.

[Sports and Business]

It will only take a couple more days to finish laughing at Danny "The Little Man who Couldn't" Briere...

Bounced off every board and pane of glass. Way to go Danny!!!!

[WAZ]

As sabre fan living in Philly, i can finally exhale.